The inaugural Aquajazz Festival was held in Russia in 2002, but the event was discontinued after several editions. It was reinstated as an international jazz festival in 2010 under the auspices of Cultural Olympics 2010, a cultural project that was part of the preparations for the 2014 Winter Olympics. Since 2014, the Sochi Jazz Festival has been part of the post-Olympics cultural heritage.
The first Sochi Jazz Festival was held on July 17–18, 2010 at the Riviera Park in the very center of Sochi. Over the years, the festival has expanded to four days. Its main venues include the open-air Green Theater in the Riviera Park, the Festival Concert Hall, and the Winter Theater. Besides, the festival program includes free concerts in the city streets and squares, as well as jam sessions in local cafes, bars, and pubs. Alongside concerts, the festival program features workshops, meetings with artists, and other exciting events for jazz lovers.
The festival usually opens with a parade of musicians that makes its way through the Riviera Park. Every year, it welcomes over 100 performers from different countries. The Sochi Jazz Festival features world-class musicians from Russia, Europe, and the United States. Artists who’ve performed in Sochi include Kate Davis, Paul Bollenback, Virgil Donati, Tony MacAlpine, Allan Harris, Mark Whitfield Jr., Brianna Thomas, Zenia McPherson, Patti Austin, Nick West, and many others.
Photo: brednikov
